Sheet metal pay-off reel apparatus



5. T. WEATHERWAX 3,500,672

SHEET METAL PAY-OFF REEL APPARATUS March 17, 1970 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 22, 1967 INVENTOR.

34% ATTORNEY March 17, 1970 a. T. WEATHERWAX 3,500,672

SHEET METAL PAY-OFF REEL APPARATUS Filed Nov. 22, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GARY T. WEATHERWAX ATVTORNEY March 17, 1970 Filed NOV. 22, 1967 G. T. WEATHERWAX SHEET METAL PAY-OFF REEL APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 6

INVENTOR. GARY T. WEATHERWAX BY M ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,500,672 SHEET METAL PAY-OFF REEL APPARATUS Gary T. Weatherwax, Elkhart, Ind. 46514 Filed Nov. 22, 1967, Ser. No. 684,995

Int. Cl. 1121a /14 U8. (:1. 72-179 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE I A sheet metal siding reel apparatus in which a coil of sheet metal is unreeled by a power drive consisting of a pair of rollers, one of the rollers being adjustable angularly with respect to the other roller for controlling the angular edgewise direction of the strip unreeled from the In the mobile home and trailer industry, many vehicles are constructed using aluminum sheet material for the siding mounted on and secured to vertical wall frames. In

this construction the vehicle body frame is normally constructed using a two-by-two studding for the wall frame, and the sheet metal siding is secured directly to the studding or to plywood panels first secured to the studding. The sheet inetal is shipped and delivered to the builder in large rolls and the sheet stock is usually from two to four feet wide., In the past, when the sheet material was to be applied to the external side walls of the vehicle, a panel of substantially the required length was removed from the roll and carried to the vehicle and lifted into place and held there until it had been secured to the wall by nails or screws. This practice is not only time consuming and difiicult but occasionally results in damage to the material before it is secured in self-supporting condition to the wall structure. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a reel mechanism which supports a roll of siding sheet metal adjacent one end of the vehicle where the sheet metal can easily be unreeled in a vertical edgewise manner and pulled directly along the vehicle side to be covered, and secured in place without lifting, turning, or carrying the sheet material after it has been severed from the roll.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reel for sheet siding material which positions the material adjacent the vehicle side and which adjusts the position of the material being removed from the roll angularly so that the strip removed from the roll is parallel with the upper and lower edges of the wall structure to which the strip is to be applied.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a reel structure which supports a plurality of sheet metal rolls in a position for unreeling strips at various levels along the side walls of the vehicle and which assists in retaining the unrolled strips in the required vertically angular position with respect to the portion of the side wall to which the strip is to be applied.

A further object is to provide a reel of the aforesaid type in which the material is creased longitudinally as it is unreeled, and is delivered to the position along the side of the vehicle on which it is to be mounted in a substantially straight, semi-rigid condition ready for securing to the vehicle side wall.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

3,500,672 Patented Mar. 17, 1970 ice FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a sheet metal siding pay-off reel apparatus showing two rolls of sheet metal mounted thereon in position for withdrawing panels of sheet metal, and showing a portion of one of the reels broken away in order to better illustrate the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the lower portion of the reel shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the present reel, the section being taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the reel shown in the preceding figures, the section being taken on line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of the lower portion of the reel shown in FIGURE 1, as seen from the direction of the removal of the sheet metal strip from the roll;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a partial cross sectional and elevational view of part of the reel, the section being taken on line 77 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view of the reel, the section being taken on line 8-8 of FIGURE 2.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIGURE 1 in particular, numeral 10 designates generally the present metal siding pay-01f reel, the one shown in the drawing being of a multiple-reel type having an upper reel assembly 12 and a lower reel assembly 14 with two reels supporting coils 16 and 18, respectively, of two different widths. The two reels are essentially the same in construction and operation and perform the same function in providing the strips of sheet material along the side of a trailer at the proper elevation for mounting on the side wall structure. In view of the similarity between the two reel assemblies 12 and 14, only one will be described in detail herein. In reel assembly 14, reel 20 is mounted on a base 22 which rests on a suitable support, such as a floor, and is rigidly supported by a post 24 attached to or embedded in the floor and supported by an overhead structural work such as the roof framing of the building. Reel 20 consists of a rotary coil support 26 of frusto-conical shape mounted on a shaft 28 supported on base 22 in a boss 30'. The rotary support 26 is provided with a flange 32 on which the coil of metal rests, the frusto-conical support extending upwardly into the hollow interior of the coil. In order to hold the coil rigidly on the support, a plate 34 is placed on top of the coil and is held firmly in place thereon by a shaft 36 extending downwardly through the hollow interior of the coil and being threadedly received in the upper plate 38 of support 26. When the coil is mounted on the reel as shown in FIGURE 1, it is freely rotatable therewith, except that a suitable brake mechanism may be incorporated in the reel in order to maintain the proper tension on the coil.

The metal is uncoiled by a power driven mechanism consisting of two rubber coated rolls 40 and 42 mounted on shafts 44 and 46, respectively. The shafts of the two rollers are journalled in bearings 48 and 50 at the top and the bottom of each roller. The upper bearing of each roller is supported by a bracket 52 secured to frame member 54, and the lower bearing 50 is mounted in a bracket 56 which in turn is mounted on base 22. The two rubber rollers are in contact with one another and pinch the sheet material being unrolled from the coil as the roller 42 is driven by suitable power means, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. Since it is not uncommon for the material to uncoil slightly angularly with respect to the axis of the coil, particularly where the portion of the sheet being uncoiled is unsupported near the coil, the

present pay-01f rollers 40 and 42 are constructed to correct any off-angular tendency. This is accomplished by shifting one or both of the shafts 44 or 46 from a strictly parallel relationship with one another to an angular relationship, as best illustrated in FIGURE 8. For example, if roller 40 is held in vertical position, shifting the upper end of roller 42 to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 2, causes the sheet strip 60 to climb, whereas shifting the upper end of roller 42 to the left causes the strip to move angularly downwardly. v

In order to assist in maintaining the sheet at the proper level and at the proper angle with respect to the vehicle side wall, two guide members62 and 64 are mounted on frame member 54 by brackets 66 and 68, respectively. These two guide members may be adjusted upwardly, downwardly and angularly in order to position the strip in the desired location. The brackets 52 and 56 are similar in construction and operation, and each can be shifted angularly on pins 69 and 70. When an adjustment is to be made, the nut on threaded pin 70 is loosened and the bracket is pivoted on pin 69 with the slot moving along pin 70, and then the nut on pin 70 is tightened to hold the fixture firmly in adjusted position. Normally an adjustment can be fully made by adjusting only one of the brackets 52 and 56.

The strip removed from the coil and passing between rollers 40 and 42 is propelled forwardly, i.e. from right to left as viewed in FIGURE 2, into and through crimping rollers 80 and 82, roller 80 consisting preferably of a metal roller having a plurality of annular ribs 84 spaced vertically thereon and roller 82 of a rubber or rubberlike construction. Roller 80 is mounted on shaft 86 which is journalled at the top and bottom in bearings 88 and 90, respectively. The upper bearing is supported by a bracket 92 on the frame member 54, and bearing 90 is supported by bracket '94 on base 22. Roller 82 is mounted on a shaft 96 which is journalled in bearings 98 and 99 at the top and bottom of the rollenBearing 98 is supported on frame member 54 by bracket 102, and bearing 99 is mounted on the base 22. Roller 82 may be adjusted toward and away from roller 80 by an adjustment means at bearings 98 and 99, themechanism consisting of a slidable plate 100 and a screw 101 extending through the respective fixture 92 or 94, thereby increasing or decreasing the depth of the longitudinal indentation in the strip of material passing between the two rollers. As the strip of material passes between rollers 80 and 82, a longitudinal crimp or indentation is formed in the material as illustrated by lines 104. These lines tend to increase the rigidity and strength of the panel removed from the coil as well as improve the appearance thereof.

The driving rollers and the crimping rollers are both driven by a motor 110 through a drive consisting of a gear reducing unit in the motor housing, sprocket 114 driven by the motor through the gear reducer, sprocket 116 connected to shaft 44, and sprocket 118 connected to shaft 96, and a chain 120 trained on the three sprockets. Since sprockets 116 and 118 are the same size, rollers 42 and 82 are driven at the same speed. The speed at which the material is unreeled from the coil may be controlled by controlling the speed of motor 110 by a suitable control device (not shown).

In the operation and control of the reel assembly 14 just described, reel 18 is placed on support 26 and the tail thereof is fed between rollers 40 and 42 and between rollers 80 and 82. Motor 110 is then started, thus driving roller 42 to control the unreeling of the material and the angular position of the unreeled portion, and driving roller 82 to form shallow longitudinal indentations 104 in the strip. The length of material uncoiled from the coil. is sufficient to reach from end-to-end of the vehicle and, when it is mounted in place along the side of the trailer, the section is cut from the strip. Since the strip is relatively heavy and large' and hence difficult to'handle, the driving rollers 40 and 42 may be adjusted to obtain '4 the desired angularity of the strip with reference to the side of the vehicle so that the section is in proper position when the section is placed along the side of the vehicle. The two guides 62 and 64 assist in obtaining the required angularity of the strip with reference to the trailer side. One of the main advantages of the present'ieel structure is that it makes possible and practical the application of long strips of the material in one piece to the full length of the sides of mobile homes and trailers. .In the past it was usually necessary to apply the siding in sections and calk the joints between the sections.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, two reel assemblies 12 and 14 havebeen illustrated. Only one, or three-or more reel assemblies may be mounted one above the other in the'same-manner" as the two shown in' the drawings. Reel assembly 12-is mounted on a base which is supported on post 24 by a sleeve 152 and collar 154 adjustably held on post 24 by a plurality of screws 156. The assembly may be shifted vertically on the post to obtain the desired position of the strip being removed from the coil so that, as the strip is extended along the side of the trailer, it -will be at the required height for proper installation. The construction and operation of the reel, 'driviu'g rollers and crimping rollers are the same as the corresponding parts in reel assembly 14 with the exception of the height or length of the rollers. While normally the different heights will be used with diiferent widths of material, the same rollers can be used for different widths of material. 1

The present reel apparatus is-primarily designed for use in applying siding to trailers, mobile homes and the like; however, it can be used satisfactorily for other pure poses, including the construction of prefabricated buildings and parts, boat structures and truck bodies. While only one embodiment of the present metal siding reel-off apparatus has been described in detail herein, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A sheet metal reel apparatus for unwinding sheet metal in a position to apply it to a vertical Side structure, said apparatus comprising a base, a reel mounted on said base for rotatably supporting a coil of sheet metal on a vertical axis, a pair of drive rollers generally parallel to one another and to the axis of said reel for unwinding a section of sheet material from the coil, means for adjusting one of said rollers angularly with respect tov the other roller for varying the angular travel of the section being removed from the coil to place the section in the required position with respect to the side of the structure on which the strip is to be mounted, a guide means disposed adjacent the normal upper edge of the sheet metal for assisting in locating the proper vertical position of the uncoiled sheet section, and power means for driving one of said rollers.

2. A sheet metal reel apparatus as defined-in claim-1 in which said rollers have bearings at each end, and said means for adjusting one of said rollers angularly with respect to the other roller includes a means for shifting one of the bearings of one of the rollers angularly with respect to the corresponding bearing of the other of said rollers.

3. A sheet metal reel apparatus as defined in-claim l in which'said rollers are provided with a resilient outer layer for engaging the opposed surfaces of the section unreeled from the coil. 1 1

4. A sheet metal reel apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said rollers are provided witha resilient outer layer for engaging the opposed surfaces of the section unreeled from the coil.

5. A sheet metal reel apparatus as defined. in claim -1 in which a second pair of rollers in substantially parallel relation to one another is provided for forming aseries of longitudinally arranged creases in the section removed from the coil, said creasing rollers being spaced from and I4 disposed on the anterior side of the first two mentioned rollers.

6. A sheet metal reel apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which a second pair of rollers in substantially parallel relation to one another is provided for forming a series of longitudinally arranged creases in the strip removed from the coil, said creasing rollers being spaced from and disposed on the anterior side of the first two mentioned rollers.

7. A sheet metal reel apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which one of said creasing rollers has a resilient surface and the other of said creasing rollers has a surface with a plurality of spaced annular ribs thereon.

8. A sheet metal reel apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which one of said creasing rollers has a resilient surface and the other of said creasing rollers has a surface with a plurality of spaced annular ribs thereon.

9. A sheet metal reel apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which a second reel and pair of drive rollers are mounted above said first reel and drive rollers for uncoiling a section of metal in substantially parallel relation to said first mentioned section for attaching to the side of a supporting structure in vertical relation to said first men tioned section.

10. A sheet metal siding reel apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which a power means drives both pairs of said rollers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,807,141 5/1931 Wood 72-197 3,054,547 9/1962 Alexefl et a1. 226-21 X 3,223,350 12/1965 Bock et al. 24286.52 3,243,089 3/1966 Cracho et al 226-180 MILTON S. MEHR, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 22621; 24248.6 

